Fairbanks

1. Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum

Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum is part of the 105-acre Wedgewood Resort, which also houses a 75-acre wildlife sanctuary and a 2,000-acre waterfowl refuge in Alaska.

The museum documents the history of automobile technology and transportation throughout the state, showcasing more than 80 historic cars, including the last remaining 1920 Argonne and the 1905 Sheldon Roundabout, the first car built in the state.

Multimedia exhibits bring the state’s formative years to life, documenting the use of automobiles in sculpting Alaska’s modern landscape, including the construction of the Valdez-Fairbanks Trail and the Richardson Highway.

A vintage clothing exhibit also highlights flapper dresses and high society attire of the early 20th century.

212 Wedgewood Dr, Fairbanks, AK 99701, Phone: 907-450-2100

2. Running Reindeer Ranch

Running Reindeer Ranch offers one-of-a-kind tours on a private Fairbanks ranch, showcasing family-owned reindeer.

The ranch’s immersive experiences were the 2013 recipient of the Jim and Mary Binkley Award and have been featured in international programming and publications such as The Washington Post, Condé Nast Traveller, and The Travel Channel.

Reindeer-led tours showcase a beautiful boreal forest, with tour guides providing information on the region’s natural history and the animals’ lives.

Seasonal tours also highlight the region’s aurora borealis and the ranch’s organic vegetable and perennial gardens.

Light refreshments are served for all guests on the reservation-only tour.

1470 Ivans Alley, Fairbanks, AK 99709, Phone: 907-455-4998

3. Morris Thompson Cultural & Visitors Center

Morris Thompson Cultural & Visitors Center was opened in 2009 and was the result of a decade of planning by the Fairbanks Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Alaska Public Lands Information Center, and the Tanana Chiefs Conference.

The center, which honors civic leader Morris Thompson, serves as a visitor center for the interior Alaska region and showcases a variety of interactive exhibits and cultural programming related to the region’s social history, with a particular focus on its indigenous communities.

Regular cultural programming presented at the center includes daily documentary showings and performances and demonstrations by local Athabascan artists. The center also serves as the headquarters for a number of regional organizations, including the Denakkanaaga Alaska Native Elders’ Organization, the Alaska Geographic Store, and the Tanana Chiefs Cultural Program.

101 Dunkel St, Fairbanks, AK 99701, Phone: 907-459-3700

4. McKinley Explorer

McKinley Explorer is part of Alaska’s largest dome railcar fleet, operated by Princess Cruises and Holland American Line.

10 McKinley Explorer cars carry a total of 88 passengers aboard the train’s upper level dome sections, which offer spectacular 360-degree wilderness views from rooftop dome windows and amenities such as footrests and fold-down tray tables.

Tour guides offer commentary on the scenery between Anchorage and Denali National Park, a complete trip of approximately eight hours, though intermediate stops are available for shorter journeys.

A restaurant and outdoor viewing platform are offered on the train’s lower level, and bar service is available on the upper level.

3900 Arctic Blvd, Suite 304, Anchorage AK 99503, Phone: 800-208-0200

5. University of Alaska Museum of the North

University of Alaska Museum of the North is one of Fairbanks’ premiere museums, showcasing a variety of exhibits related to the state’s notable people and places. The recently-renovated museum is designed to evoke the landscape of Alaska, with design elements subtly mimicking the state’s alpine mountains, glaciers, and rivers. Its centerpiece exhibit is its Rose Berry Alaska Art Gallery, which features a collection of works by Alaskan artists across history, from ancient indigenous carvings to contemporary art pieces by both Native and non-Native luminaries. The state’s cultural history is chronicled within the exhibits of the Gallery of Alaska, while its geologic landscape is recreated in The Place Where You Go To Listen, an interactive exhibit that changes based on natural statistics such as the state’s aurora and seismic activity.

1962 Yukon Dr, Fairbanks, AK 99775, Phone: 907-474-7505

6. University of Alaska Fairbanks

University of Alaska Fairbanks is a public research university that serves as the flagship campus of the University of Alaska System. The 2,250-acre campus offers a variety of activities and facilities for students, community members, and visitors alike, including two lakes and several miles of walking and biking trails. Basketball, volleyball, tennis, and swimming facilities are available for use, along with a fitness center, an ice arena, a climbing wall, and dance, gymnastics, martial arts, and aerobics courses and equipment. The university’s Museum of the North showcases a variety of cultural and natural history exhibits, while its Rasmuson Library is the state’s largest public research library. Regular music and theater performances are held at the Salisbury Theatre and the Davis Concert Hall, and community programming is offered at the Wood Center, which also features a pub and a bowling alley.

505 South Chandalar Drive, Fairbanks, AK 99775, Phone: 907-474-7034

7. Chena River State Recreation Area

Chena River State Recreation Area is a 397-square-mile recreation area following the path of the Chena River, offering year-round adventures for visitors looking to experience Alaska’s great outdoors

. The recreation area attracts more than 150,000 annual visitors and is home to abundant wildlife, including black and grizzly bears, moose, and beavers.

Catch-and-release fishing is permitted along the river and within three ponds, while hiking and rock climbing are offered at Granite Tors. Dog sledding, skiing, and snow machining are popular winter activities, with a number of winter trails available for visitor access. Overnight accommodations are available at the Rosehip, Tors Trail, and Red Squirrel Campground areas, which offer RV hookups and picnic areas.

3700 Airport Way, Fairbanks, AK 99709, Phone: 907-451-2705

8. Creamer's Field Migratory Waterfowl Refuge

Creamer's Field Migratory Waterfowl Refuge stands on the grounds of a turn-of-the-century dairy farm that operated until 1966 as the Alaskan Interior’s most successful dairy. Following its closing, the site was turned into a wildlife refuge, with its former buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Today, the site serves as an important refuge for waterfowl and migratory birds and offers opportunities for wildlife watching and recreation. Historic exhibits are showcased at the Farmhouse Visitor Center, which serves as a trailhead for naturalist-led walks throughout the summer season. Several nature trails are also offered, including the Boreal Forest Trail, the Farm Road Trail, and the interpretive Seasonal Wetland Trail.

1300 College Rd, Fairbanks, AK 99701, Phone: 907-459-7307

9. Alyeska Pipeline Visitor Center

Alyeska Pipeline Visitor Center lets visitors get an up-close glimpse of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System, one of the region’s great engineering marvels. The pipeline was constructed between 1974 and 1977 by more than 70,000 workers at a cost of $8 billion. Today, the pipeline spans 800 miles of the Alaskan wilderness and is privately owned and operated by the Alyeska Pipeline Service Company. Informational exhibits on the pipeline’s construction and operation are offered at the free admission visitor center, along with a display pig cleaning and inspection device. Outside the center, visitors can view a portion of the pipeline for themselves.

1671 Steese Hwy, Fairbanks, AK 99712

10. Angel Rocks Trail

Angel Rocks Trail is located within the 397-mile Chena River State Recreation Area and extends along an 8.3-mile roundtrip loop that ends at the popular Chena Hot Springs Resort. The trail is accessible via the riverside picnic stop at milepost 48.9 along Chena Hot Springs Road, which traverses the length of the recreation area. Hikers are led along a gorgeous expanse of dense evergreen forest that provides access to the scenic cliffs of Angel Rocks, a series of unique geologic formations that were created by the uplift and erosion of molten rock that reach a height of 1,750 feet. From there, the trail continues to the resort, which is located at milepost 56, offering stunning views of the Alaska Range, Chena Dome, and Bear Paw Butte along the way. Visitors should allow five to eight hours to complete the hike in each direction.

550 West 7th Avenue, Suite 1380, Anchorage, AK 99501